Apparatus and method for forming meatballs

ABSTRACT

A pair of relatively rotatable members defining concentric circular grooves generally semi-circular in cross-sectional shape closely opposing each other. One of the members is provided with an inlet neck opening into the corresponding groove and through which a quantity of ground meat may be introduced into the opposing groove. The other of the members includes a discharge chute opening outwardly from the associated groove through which rolled balls of meat may be discharged from within the grooves. The members are relatively rotatable about an upstanding axis and the grooves are disposed in generally concentric, opposed relation with the member defining the upper groove provided with the inlet neck and the member defining the lower groove provided with the discharge chute whereby a quantity of ground meat to be rolled into a ball may be gravity fed into the grooves through the inlet neck and gravity discharged from the grooves through the outlet chute, the former opening upwardly and the latter opening downwardly.

United States Patent 1 Quartarone et al.

[ 51 Jan. 30, 1973 [54] APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FORMING MEATBALLS 221 Filed: Jan.25, 1971 211 Appl.No.: 109,511

21,103 3/1883 Germany ..l07/ll Primary Examiner Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner.l. F. Pitrelli Attorney-Clarence A. OBrien and Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT A pair of relatively rotatable members defining concentric circular grooves generally semi-circular in cross-sectional shape closely opposing each other. One of the members is provided with an inlet neck opening into the corresponding groove and through which a quantity of ground meat may be introduced into the opposing groove. The other of the members includes a discharge chute opening outwardly from the associated groove through which rolled balls of meat may be discharged from within the grooves. The members are relatively rotatable about an upstanding axis and the grooves are disposed in generally concentric, opposed relation with the member defining the upper groove provided with the inlet neck and the member defining the lower groove provided with the discharge chute whereby a quantity of ground meat to be rolled into a ball may be gravity fed into the grooves through the inlet neck and gravity discharged from the grooves through the outlet chute, the former opening upwardly and the latter opening downwardly.

13 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures SHEET 2 [IF 2 Fig. 5

Joseph R. Ouarfarone lrene E. Ouarfarane IN VENTORS WWW APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FORMING MEATBALLS The method and apparatus of the instant invention have been developed in order to provide a means whereby lumps of ground meat of predetermined volume may be readily and automatically rolled into meatballs. The apparatus is constructed in a manner whereby the lumps of meat may comprise short cylindrical rod-like bodies of ground meat having a diameter substantially equal to their length as well as other axially short rod-like members of different cross-sectional shapes may be fed into the machine and readily rolled into meatballs. It is invisioned that the rod-like bodies of meat fed into he machine may be readily automatically cut from a meat grinder of the type provided with a restrictive outlet capable of at least slightly compacting the meat ground thereby.

The main object of this invention is to provide a method and apparatus whereby meatballs may be readily formed from preformed chunks of ground beef of substantially the same weight as the desired weight of the meatballs to be formed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a continuously operable machine into which preformed chunks of ground beef may be successively placed in a continuous operation with the machine functioning to roll the supplied chunks of meat into meatballs and automatically sequentially dispense the rolled meatballs therefrom.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a method of sequentially forming rolled meatballs out of a plurality of preformed chunks of ground beef.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a meat ball rolling apparatus constructed in accordance with the preceding objects and which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use, so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a first form of meatball rolling machine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the assemblage illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing through the center of the assemblage illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view of the outlet chute portion of the machine; and

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a second embodiment of the invention with portions thereof being broken away and illustrated in vertical section.

Referring now morespecifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the meatball forming machine of the instant invention which is illustrated in operative association with a shallow cylindrical pan 12 for receiving the rolled meatballs discharged from the machine.

The machine 10 includes an upper body portion 14 which is generally panel-like in configuration and substantially circular in plan shape. The outer peripheral marginal portion 16 of the body portion 14 is contoured to form a downwardly opening groove 18. The groove 18 is circular in plan shape and generally semicylindrical in cross-sectional shape. The upper body portion 14 is supported in elevation above any suitable support surface 20 by three circumferentially spaced outwardly projecting and downwardly curving legs 22 whose lower ends rest on the support surface 20.

The upper body portion 14 includes an upwardly opening and projecting inlet neck 24 which is elongated along a corresponding portion of the groove 18 and the center of the body portion 14 is provided with an upstanding bore 25 through which the rotatable output shaft 26 of an electric motor 28 projects. The electric motor 28 is secured to the upper surface of the central portion of the body portion 14 over the bore 25 in any convenient manner and the output shaft 26 includes a free lower end portion which is diametrically reduced and externally threaded as at 30.

The machine 10 further includes a lower body portion 32 which is generally panel-like in configuration and circular in plan shape. The outer marginal portion 34 of the body portion 32 is contoured to form an upwardly opening circumferentially extending groove 36. The groove 36 is circular in plan shape and generally semi-cylindrical in cross-sectional shape.

The lower body portion 32 is secured on the threaded end portion of the output shaft 26 by means of a threaded fastener 37 with the lower body portion 32 spaced only slightly below the upper body portion 14 and concentric with the latter whereby the grooves 18 and 36 open toward each other and together define an annular passage extending about the machine 10 with the passage being generally cylindrical in crosssectional shape.

The lower body portion 32 includes a discharge chute 38 which opens downwardly from the bottom of the groove 36 and is inclined rearwardly relative to the direction of movement of the lower body portion 32 when the latter is driven by the motor 28.

The pan 12 is received between the lower end of the legs 22 and rests upon the support surface 20. The pan is generally centered relative to the axis of rotation of the lower body portion 32 and is of a diameter to receive rolled balls of ground meat being discharged from the discharge chute 38 as the lower body portion 32 is rotated relative to the upper body portion 14. In operation, successive chunks of meat such as that indicated by the reference numeral 40 are dropped into the inlet neck 24 during rotation of the lower body portion 32 relative to the upper body portion 14. These chunks of meat may be automatically cut from a restrictive discharge neck of a meat grinder at predetermined internals during operation of the meat grinder whereby the chunks of meat will be at least somewhat compacted to retain their shape and to resist falling apart. Further, these chunks of meat will be of approximately the same volume and weight and it is to be understood that the cross-sectional area of the channel or passage defined by the confronting grooves 18 and 36 will determine the volume of the chunks 40 of ground meat to be supplied to the machine 10 through the inlet neck 24. As each chunk of meat falls into the groove 36, it will be frictionally engaged by those surfaces of the lower body portion 32 defining the groove 36 in order that the chunk of meat will be rolled through the passage defined by the grooves 18 and 36 in the direction of rotation of the lower body portion 32 and at approximately one-half the speed of rotation of the lower body portion 32. As each rolled ball of ground meat is received in the upper end of the discharged chute 38, it will roll down the latter and drop into the pan 12.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIG. 6 of the drawings, there will be seen a modified form of machine referred to in general by the reference numeral l and which includes components corresponding to similar components of the machine 10 and which are therefore designated by corresponding prime numerals.

The lower ends of the legs 22 are supported from corresponding circumferential portions of the upstanding wall 13 of the pan l2 and the electric motor 28 is supported from the center portion of the bottom wall 15 of the pan 12' and has its output shaft 26' secured upwardly through the center of the lower body portion 32. Otherwise, the machine 10' is similar to the machine 10 except that the lower ends of the legs 22 may be either permanently attached to or removably supported from a peripheral wall 13 of the pan 12. Of course, the operation of the machine 10' is substantially identical to the operation of the machine 10.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A pair of first and second relatively rotatable members defining closely opposed circular grooves of substantially the same diameter concentric with the axis of relative rotation of said members and opening toward each other in directions generally paralleling said axis, said grooves being generally semi-circular in cross-sectional shape and together defining an annular passage generally circular in cross-sectional shape, one of said members including an inlet opening into the closed side of the corresponding groove for passing chunks of ground meat into said passage, and said first member including a discharge outlet opening outwardly of the closed side of the corresponding groove for passing rolled meatballs from said passage outwardly of said passage. I

2. The combination of claim I wherein said one member comprises said second member.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said grooves are generally horizontally disposed in superposed relation with the groove of said one member disposed uppermost, the transverse dimension of said inlet neck being elongated about the longitudinal extent of the groove defined by said one member.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said outlet is carried by said second member.

5. The combination of claim 4 including a motor supported from said one member and having a downwardly projecting rotatable output shaft upon which said other member is mounted.

6 The combination of claim 2 wherein said grooves are generally horizontally disposed in superposed relation with the groove of said one member disposed uppermost.

7. The combination of claim 2 wherein said grooves are generally horizontally disposed in superposed relation with the groove of said one member disposed uppermost, said one member including a plurality of depending support legs, the second member being rotatably supported beneath said one member above the lower ends of said legs.

8. The combination of claim 1 including motor means drivingly connected to a selected member.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said selected member comprises said first member.

10. A pair of first and second relatively rotatable members defining closely opposed and concentric circular grooves of substantially the same diameter and opening toward each other, said grooves being generally semi-circular in cross-sectional shape and together defining an annular passage generally circular in cross-sectional shape, one of said members including an inlet opening into the corresponding groove for passing chunks of ground meat into said passage, and first members including a discharge outlet opening outwardly of the corresponding groove for passing rolled meatballs from said passage outwardly of said passage, motor means drivingly connected to a selected member, said selected member comprising said first member, said discharge outlet comprising a chute inclined rearwardly, at its outlet end, relative to the direction of rotation of said first member.

11. The combination of claim 1 wherein the transverse dimension of said inlet neck is elongated about the longitudinal extent of the groove in said one member.

12. The method of successively forming spherical balls from bodies of ground meat having a shape other than spherical but whose transverse dimensions in all directions are generally equal, said method comprising the steps of successively placing the bodies of ground meat in an annular passage of substantially circular cross-sectional shape and thereafter moving those wall portions of the passage disposed on one side of a plane generally coinciding with the medial plane of the passage in one direction about an axis substantially normal to said medial plane and concentric with said passage, the step of placing the bodies in said passage including the step of passing said bodies through an opening formed in the wall portions of the passage disposed on the other side of said plane, and then successively withdrawing said bodies through an opening formed in the first mentioned wall portions as the bodies are successively registered therewith after being rolled between the first and second mentioned wall portions.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said the first mentioned surfaces are moved at least throughout an arc of i i i 

1. A pair of first and second relatively rotatable members defining closely opposed circular grooves of substantially the same diameter concentric with the axis of relative rotation of said members and opening toward each other in directions generally paralleling said axis, said grooves being generally semi-circular in cross-sectional shape and together defining an annular passage generally circular in cross-sectional shape, one of said members including an inlet opening into the closed side of the corresponding groove for passing chunks of ground meat into said passage, and said first member including a discharge outlet opening outwardly of the closed side of the corresponding groove for passing rolled meatballs from said passage outwardly of said passage.
 1. A pair of first and second relatively rotatable members defining closely opposed circular grooves of substantially the same diameter concentric with the axis of relative rotation of said members and opening toward each other in directions generally paralleling said axis, said grooves being generally semi-circular in cross-sectional shape and together defining an annular passage generally circular in cross-sectional shape, one of said members including an inlet opening into the closed side of the corresponding groove for passing chunks of ground meat into said passage, and said first member including a discharge outlet opening outwardly of the closed side of the corresponding groove for passing rolled meatballs from said passage outwardly of said passage.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said one member comprises said second member.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said grooves are generally horizontally disposed in superposed relation with the groove of said one member disposed uppermost, the transverse dimension of said inlet neck being elongated about the longitudinal extent of the groove defined by said one member.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said outlet is carried by said second member.
 5. The combination of claim 4 including a motor supported from said one member and having a downwardly projecting rotatable output shaft upon which said other member is mounted.
 6. The combination of claim 2 wherein said grooves are generally horizontally disposed in superposed relation with the groove of said one member disposed uppermost.
 7. The combination of claim 2 wherein said grooves are generally horizontally disposed in supErposed relation with the groove of said one member disposed uppermost, said one member including a plurality of depending support legs, the second member being rotatably supported beneath said one member above the lower ends of said legs.
 8. The combination of claim 1 including motor means drivingly connected to a selected member.
 9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said selected member comprises said first member.
 10. A pair of first and second relatively rotatable members defining closely opposed and concentric circular grooves of substantially the same diameter and opening toward each other, said grooves being generally semi-circular in cross-sectional shape and together defining an annular passage generally circular in cross-sectional shape, one of said members including an inlet opening into the corresponding groove for passing chunks of ground meat into said passage, and first members including a discharge outlet opening outwardly of the corresponding groove for passing rolled meatballs from said passage outwardly of said passage, motor means drivingly connected to a selected member, said selected member comprising said first member, said discharge outlet comprising a chute inclined rearwardly, at its outlet end, relative to the direction of rotation of said first member.
 11. The combination of claim 1 wherein the transverse dimension of said inlet neck is elongated about the longitudinal extent of the groove in said one member.
 12. The method of successively forming spherical balls from bodies of ground meat having a shape other than spherical but whose transverse dimensions in all directions are generally equal, said method comprising the steps of successively placing the bodies of ground meat in an annular passage of substantially circular cross-sectional shape and thereafter moving those wall portions of the passage disposed on one side of a plane generally coinciding with the medial plane of the passage in one direction about an axis substantially normal to said medial plane and concentric with said passage, the step of placing the bodies in said passage including the step of passing said bodies through an opening formed in the wall portions of the passage disposed on the other side of said plane, and then successively withdrawing said bodies through an opening formed in the first mentioned wall portions as the bodies are successively registered therewith after being rolled between the first and second mentioned wall portions. 